Editorial

6 pages, 287 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Integrated Human Exposure to Air Pollution

by Nuno Canha, Evangelia Diapouli and Susana Marta Almeida

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2233; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052233 - 24 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1961

Air pollution is one of the major environmental health problems that people face nowadays, affecting everyone in the world [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

Research

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15 pages, 2682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adverse Birth Outcomes Due to Exposure to Household Air Pollution from Unclean Cooking Fuel among Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria

by Jamie Roberman, Theophilus I. Emeto and Oyelola A. Adegboye

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(2), 634; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020634 - 13 Jan 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3937

Abstract

Exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from cooking with unclean fuels and indoor smoking has become a significant contributor to global mortality and morbidity, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Growing evidence suggests that exposure to HAP disproportionately affects mothers [...] Read more.

Exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from cooking with unclean fuels and indoor smoking has become a significant contributor to global mortality and morbidity, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Growing evidence suggests that exposure to HAP disproportionately affects mothers and children and can increase risks of adverse birth outcomes. We aimed to quantify the association between HAP and adverse birth outcomes of stillbirth, preterm births, and low birth weight while controlling for geographic variability. This study is based on a cross-sectional survey of 127,545 birth records from 41,821 individual women collected as part of the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) covering 2013–2018. We developed Bayesian structured additive regression models based on Bayesian splines for adverse birth outcomes. Our model includes the mother’s level and household characteristics while correcting for spatial effects and multiple births per mother. Model parameters and inferences were based on a fully Bayesian approach via Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations. We observe that unclean fuel is the primary source of cooking for 89.3% of the 41,821 surveyed women in the 2018 NDHS. Of all pregnancies, 14.9% resulted in at least one adverse birth outcome; 14.3% resulted in stillbirth, 7.3% resulted in an underweight birth, and 1% resulted in premature birth. We found that the risk of stillbirth is significantly higher for mothers using unclean cooking fuel. However, exposure to unclean fuel was not significantly associated with low birth weight and preterm birth. Mothers who attained at least primary education had reduced risk of stillbirth, while the risk of stillbirth increased with the increasing age of the mother. Mothers living in the Northern states had a significantly higher risk of adverse births outcomes in 2018. Our results show that decreasing national levels of adverse birth outcomes depends on working toward addressing the disparities between states. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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14 pages, 6126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation on Air Purifier’s Performance in Reducing the Concentration of Fine Particulate Matter for Occupants according to its Operation Methods

by Hyungyu Park, Seonghyun Park and Janghoo Seo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5561; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155561 - 01 Aug 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2992

Abstract

Fine particulate matter entering the body through breathing cause serious damage to humans. In South Korea, filter-type air purifiers are used to eliminate indoor fine particulate matter, and there has been a broad range of studies on the spread of fine particulate matter [...] Read more.

Fine particulate matter entering the body through breathing cause serious damage to humans. In South Korea, filter-type air purifiers are used to eliminate indoor fine particulate matter, and there has been a broad range of studies on the spread of fine particulate matter and air purifiers. However, earlier studies have not evaluated an operating method of air purifiers considering the inflow of fine particulate matter into the body or reduction performance of the concentration of fine particulate matter. There is a limit to controlling the concentration of fine particulate matter of the overall space where an air purifier is fixed in one spot as the source of indoor fine particulate matter is varied. Accordingly, this study analyzed changes in the concentration of indoor fine particulate matter through an experiment according to the discharging method and location of a fixed air purifier considering the inflow route of fine particulate matter into the body and their harmfulness. The study evaluated the purifiers’ performance in reducing the concentration of fine particulate matter in the occupants’ breathing zone according to the operation method in which a movable air purifier responds to the movement of occupants. The results showed the concentration of fine particulate matter around the breathing zone of the occupants had decreased by about 51 μg/m³ compared to the surrounding concentration in terms of the operating method in which an air purifier tracks occupants in real-time, and a decrease of about 68 μg/m³ in terms of the operating method in which an air purifier controls the zone. On the other hand, a real-time occupant tracking method may face a threshold due to the moving path of an air purifier and changes in the number of occupants. A zone controlling method is deemed suitable as an operating method of a movable air purifier to reduce the concentration of fine particulate matter in the breathing zone of occupants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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23 pages, 7123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Assessment of Air Quality and Identification of Aerosol Sources at Setúbal, Portugal

by Alexandra Viana Silva, Cristina M. Oliveira, Nuno Canha, Ana Isabel Miranda and Susana Marta Almeida

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5447; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155447 - 28 Jul 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2564

Abstract

Understanding air pollution in urban areas is crucial to identify mitigation actions that may improve air quality and, consequently, minimize human exposure to air pollutants and their impact. This study aimed to assess the temporal evolution of the air quality in the city [...] Read more.

Understanding air pollution in urban areas is crucial to identify mitigation actions that may improve air quality and, consequently, minimize human exposure to air pollutants and their impact. This study aimed to assess the temporal evolution of the air quality in the city of Setúbal (Portugal) during a time period of 10 years (2003–2012), by evaluating seasonal trends of air pollutants (PM₁₀, PM_2.5, O₃, NO, NO₂ and NO_x) measured in nine monitoring stations. In order to identify emission sources of particulate matter, PM_2.5 and PM_2.5–10 were characterized in two different areas (urban traffic and industrial) in winter and summer and, afterwards, source apportionment was performed by means of Positive Matrix Factorization. Overall, the air quality has been improving over the years with a decreasing trend of air pollutant concentration, with the exception of O₃. Despite this improvement, levels of PM₁₀, O₃ and nitrogen oxides still do not fully comply with the requirements of European legislation, as well as with the guideline values of the World Health Organization (WHO). The main anthropogenic sources contributing to local PM levels were traffic, industry and wood burning, which should be addressed by specific mitigation measures in order to minimize their impact on the local air quality. Full article

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14 pages, 3041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Economic Growth, Urbanization, and Industrialization Affect Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations? An Assessment in Liaoning Province, China

by Tuo Shi, Yuanman Hu, Miao Liu, Chunlin Li, Chuyi Zhang and Chong Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5441; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155441 - 28 Jul 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2405

Abstract

With China’s rapid development, urban air pollution problems occur frequently. As one of the principal components of haze, fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has potential negative health effects, causing widespread concern. However, the causal interactions and dynamic relationships between socioeconomic factors and [...] Read more.

With China’s rapid development, urban air pollution problems occur frequently. As one of the principal components of haze, fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has potential negative health effects, causing widespread concern. However, the causal interactions and dynamic relationships between socioeconomic factors and ambient air pollution are still unclear, especially in specific regions. As an important industrial base in Northeast China, Liaoning Province is a representative mode of social and economic development. Panel data including PM_2.5 concentration and three socio-economic indicators of Liaoning Province from 2000 to 2015 were built. The data were first-difference stationary and the variables were cointegrated. The Granger causality test was used as the main method to test the causality. In the results, in terms of the causal interactions, economic activities, industrialization and urbanization processes all showed positive long-term impacts on changes of PM_2.5 concentration. Economic growth and industrialization also significantly affected the variations in PM_2.5 concentration in the short term. In terms of the contributions, industrialization contributed the most to the variations of PM_2.5 concentration in the sixteen years, followed by economic growth. Though Liaoning Province, an industry-oriented region, has shown characteristics of economic and industrial transformation, policy makers still need to explore more targeted policies to address the regional air pollution issue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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18 pages, 1861 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Indoor Pollutants Exposure on Allergy and Lung Inflammation: An Activation State of Neutrophils and Eosinophils in Sputum

by Khairul Nizam Mohd Isa, Zailina Hashim, Juliana Jalaludin, Leslie Thian Lung Than and Jamal Hisham Hashim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5413; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155413 - 28 Jul 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3651

Abstract

Background: To explore the inflammation phenotypes following indoor pollutants exposure based on marker expression on eosinophils and neutrophils with the application of chemometric analysis approaches. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among secondary school students in eight suburban and urban schools in the [...] Read more.

Background: To explore the inflammation phenotypes following indoor pollutants exposure based on marker expression on eosinophils and neutrophils with the application of chemometric analysis approaches. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among secondary school students in eight suburban and urban schools in the district of Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. The survey was completed by 96 students at the age of 14 by using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) and European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaires. The fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) was measured, and an allergic skin prick test and sputum induction were performed for all students. Induced sputum samples were analysed for the expression of CD11b, CD35, CD63, and CD66b on eosinophils and neutrophils by flow cytometry. The particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), NO₂, CO₂, and formaldehyde were measured inside the classrooms. Results: Chemometric and regression results have clustered the expression of CD63 with PM_2.5, CD11b with NO₂, CD66b with FeNO levels, and CO₂ with eosinophils, with the prediction accuracy of the models being 71.88%, 76.04%, and 76.04%, respectively. Meanwhile, for neutrophils, the CD63 and CD66b clustering with PM_2.5 and CD11b with FeNO levels showed a model prediction accuracy of 72.92% and 71.88%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings indicated that the exposure to PM_2.5 and NO₂ was likely associated with the degranulation of eosinophils and neutrophils, following the activation mechanisms that led to the inflammatory reactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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19 pages, 4312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Passive Exposure to Pollutants from a New Generation of Cigarettes in Real Life Scenarios

by Joseph Savdie, Nuno Canha, Nicole Buitrago and Susana Marta Almeida

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(10), 3455; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103455 - 15 May 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4819

Abstract

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heat-not-burn tobacco (HNBT), as popular nicotine delivery systems (NDS), has increased among adult demographics. This study aims to assess the effects on indoor air quality of traditional tobacco cigarettes (TCs) and new smoking alternatives, to determine [...] Read more.

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heat-not-burn tobacco (HNBT), as popular nicotine delivery systems (NDS), has increased among adult demographics. This study aims to assess the effects on indoor air quality of traditional tobacco cigarettes (TCs) and new smoking alternatives, to determine the differences between their potential impacts on human health. Measurements of particulate matter (PM₁, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), black carbon, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) were performed in two real life scenarios, in the home and in the car. The results indicated that the particle emissions from the different NDS devices were significantly different. In the home and car, the use of TCs resulted in higher PM₁₀ and ultrafine particle concentrations than when e-cigarettes were smoked, while the lowest concentrations were associated with HNBT. As black carbon and CO are released by combustion processes, the concentrations of these two pollutants were significantly lower for e-cigarettes and HNBT because no combustion occurs when they are smoked. CO₂ showed no increase directly associated with the NDS but a trend linked to a higher respiration rate connected with smoking. The results showed that although the levels of pollutants emitted by e-cigarettes and HNBT are substantially lower compared to those from TCs, the new smoking devices are still a source of indoor air pollutants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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19 pages, 3151 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Has the Hazard to Humans of Microorganisms Found in Atmospheric Aerosol in the South of Western Siberia Changed over 10 Years?

by Alexandr Safatov, Irina Andreeva, Galina Buryak, Olesia Ohlopkova, Sergei Olkin, Larisa Puchkova, Irina Reznikova, Nadezda Solovyanova, Boris Belan, Mikhail Panchenko and Denis Simonenkov

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(5), 1651; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051651 - 03 Mar 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2903

Abstract

One of the most important components of atmospheric aerosols are microorganisms. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the hazard to humans, both from individual microorganisms which are present in atmospheric bioaerosols as well as from their pool. An approach for determining the hazard [...] Read more.

One of the most important components of atmospheric aerosols are microorganisms. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the hazard to humans, both from individual microorganisms which are present in atmospheric bioaerosols as well as from their pool. An approach for determining the hazard of bacteria and yeasts found in atmospheric bioaerosols for humans has previously been proposed. The purpose of this paper is to compare our results for 2006–2008 with the results of studies obtained in 2012–2016 to identify changes in the characteristics of bioaerosols occurring over a decade in the south of Western Siberia. Experimental data on the growth, morphological and biochemical properties of bacteria and yeasts were determined for each isolate found in bioaerosol samples. The integral indices of the hazards of bacteria and yeast for humans were constructed for each isolate based on experimentally determined isolate characteristics according to the approach developed by authors in 2008. Data analysis of two datasets showed that hazard to humans of culturable microorganisms in the atmospheric aerosol in the south of Western Siberia has not changed significantly for 10 years (trends are undistinguishable from zero with a confidence level of more than 95%) despite a noticeable decrease in the average annual number of culturable microorganisms per cubic meter (6–10 times for 10 years). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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18 pages, 2299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geochemical, Mineralogical and Morphological Characterisation of Road Dust and Associated Health Risks

by Carla Candeias, Estela Vicente, Mário Tomé, Fernando Rocha, Paula Ávila and Alves Célia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(5), 1563; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051563 - 28 Feb 2020

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 4165

Abstract

Road dust resuspension, especially the particulate matter fraction below 10 µm (PM₁₀), is one of the main air quality management challenges in Europe. Road dust samples were collected from representative streets (suburban and urban) of the city of Viana do Castelo, [...] Read more.

Road dust resuspension, especially the particulate matter fraction below 10 µm (PM₁₀), is one of the main air quality management challenges in Europe. Road dust samples were collected from representative streets (suburban and urban) of the city of Viana do Castelo, Portugal. PM₁₀ emission factors (mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹) ranging from 49 (asphalt) to 330 (cobble stone) were estimated by means of the United Stated Environmental Protection Agency method. Two road dust fractions (<0.074 mm and from 0.0074 to 1 mm) were characterised for their geochemical, mineralogical and morphological properties. In urban streets, road dusts reveal the contribution from traffic emissions, with higher concentrations of, for example, Cu, Zn and Pb. In the suburban area, agriculture practices likely contributed to As concentrations of 180 mg kg⁻¹ in the finest road dust fraction. Samples are primarily composed of quartz, but also of muscovite, albite, kaolinite, microcline, Fe-enstatite, graphite and amorphous content. Particle morphology clearly shows the link with natural and traffic related materials, with well-formed minerals and irregular aggregates. The hazard quotient suggests a probability to induce non-carcinogenic adverse health effects in children by ingestion of Zr. Arsenic in the suburban street represents a human health risk of 1.58 × 10⁻⁴. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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14 pages, 2993 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Effect of Air Pollution on Tuberculosis Based on Kriged Data: A Time-Series Analysis

by Shuqiong Huang, Hao Xiang, Wenwen Yang, Zhongmin Zhu, Liqiao Tian, Shiquan Deng, Tianhao Zhang, Yuanan Lu, Feifei Liu, Xiangyu Li and Suyang Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(5), 1522; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051522 - 27 Feb 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3227

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) has a very high mortality rate worldwide. However, only a few studies have examined the associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and TB incidence. Our objectives were to estimate associations between short-term exposure to air pollutants and TB incidence in [...] Read more.

Tuberculosis (TB) has a very high mortality rate worldwide. However, only a few studies have examined the associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and TB incidence. Our objectives were to estimate associations between short-term exposure to air pollutants and TB incidence in Wuhan city, China, during the 2015–2016 period. We applied a generalized additive model to access the short-term association of air pollution with TB. Daily exposure to each air pollutant in Wuhan was determined using ordinary kriging. The air pollutants included in the analysis were particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers (PM_2.5), PM with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 micrometers (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and ground-level ozone (O₃). Daily incident cases of TB were obtained from the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Hubei CDC). Both single- and multiple-pollutant models were used to examine the associations between air pollution and TB. Seasonal variation was assessed by splitting the all-year data into warm (May–October) and cold (November–April) seasons. In the single-pollutant model, for a 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and O₃ at lag 7, the associated TB risk increased by 17.03% (95% CI: 6.39, 28.74), 11.08% (95% CI: 6.39, 28.74), and 16.15% (95% CI: 1.88, 32.42), respectively. In the multi-pollutant model, the effect of PM_2.5 on TB remained statistically significant, while the effects of other pollutants were attenuated. The seasonal analysis showed that there was not much difference regarding the impact of air pollution on TB between the warm season and the cold season. Our study reveals that the mechanism linking air pollution and TB is still complex. Further research is warranted to explore the interaction of air pollution and TB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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21 pages, 3849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantifying the Health Burden Misclassification from the Use of Different PM_2.5 Exposure Tier Models: A Case Study of London

by Vasilis Kazakos, Zhiwen Luo and Ian Ewart

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17031099 - 09 Feb 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3262

Abstract

Exposure to PM_2.5 has been associated with increased mortality in urban areas. Hence, reducing the uncertainty in human exposure assessments is essential for more accurate health burden estimates. Here, we quantified the misclassification that occurred when using different exposure approaches to predict [...] Read more.

Exposure to PM_2.5 has been associated with increased mortality in urban areas. Hence, reducing the uncertainty in human exposure assessments is essential for more accurate health burden estimates. Here, we quantified the misclassification that occurred when using different exposure approaches to predict the mortality burden of a population using London as a case study. We developed a framework for quantifying the misclassification of the total mortality burden attributable to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in four major microenvironments (MEs) (dwellings, aboveground transportation, London Underground (LU) and outdoors) in the Greater London Area (GLA), in 2017. We demonstrated that differences exist between five different exposure Tier-models with incrementally increasing complexity, moving from static to more dynamic approaches. BenMap-CE, the open source software developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was used as a tool to achieve spatial distribution of the ambient concentration by interpolating the monitoring data to the unmonitored areas and ultimately estimating the change in mortality on a fine resolution. Indoor exposure to PM_2.5 is the largest contributor to total population exposure concentration, accounting for 83% of total predicted population exposure, followed by the London Underground, which contributes approximately 15%, despite the average time spent there by Londoners being only 0.4%. After incorporating housing stock and time-activity data, moving from static to most dynamic metric, Inner London showed the highest reduction in exposure concentration (i.e., approximately 37%) and as a result the largest change in mortality (i.e., health burden/mortality misclassification) was observed in central GLA. Overall, our findings showed that using outdoor concentration as a surrogate for total population exposure but ignoring different exposure concentration that occur indoors and time spent in transit, led to a misclassification of 1174–1541 mean predicted mortalities in GLA. We generally confirm that increasing the complexity and incorporating important microenvironments, such as the highly polluted LU, could significantly reduce the misclassification of health burden assessments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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22 pages, 2320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Statistical Modeling of the Early-Stage Impact of a New Traffic Policy in Milan, Italy

by Paolo Maranzano, Alessandro Fassò, Matteo Pelagatti and Manfred Mudelsee

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17031088 - 08 Feb 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2959

Abstract

Most urban areas of the Po basin in the North of Italy are persistently affected by poor air quality and difficulty in disposing of airborne pollutants. In this context, the municipality of Milan started a multi-year progressive policy based on an extended limited [...] Read more.

Most urban areas of the Po basin in the North of Italy are persistently affected by poor air quality and difficulty in disposing of airborne pollutants. In this context, the municipality of Milan started a multi-year progressive policy based on an extended limited traffic zone (Area B). Starting on 25 February 2019, the first phase partially restricted the circulation of some classes of highly polluting vehicles on the territory, in particular, Euro 0 petrol vehicles and Euro 0 to 3 diesel vehicles, excluding public transport. This is the early-stage of a long term policy that will restrict access to an increasing number of vehicles. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the early-stage impact of this policy on two specific vehicle-generated pollutants: total nitrogen oxides (NO

_{x}

) and nitrogen dioxide (NO

_{2}

), which are gathered by Lombardy Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARPA Lombardia). We use a statistical model for time series intervention analysis based on unobservable components. We use data from 2014 to 2018 for pre-policy model selection and the relatively short period up to September 2019 for early-stage policy assessment. We include weather conditions, socio-economic factors, and a counter-factual, given by the concentration of the same pollutant in other important neighbouring cities. Although the average concentrations reduced after the policy introduction, this paper argues that this could be due to other factors. Considering that the short time window may be not long enough for social adaptation to the new rules, our model does not provide statistical evidence of a positive policy effect for NO

_{x}

and NO

_{2}

. Instead, in one of the most central monitoring stations, a significant negative impact is found. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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15 pages, 4651 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Personal Exposure Estimates via Portable and Wireless Sensing and Reporting of Particulate Pollution

by Harsshit Agrawaal, Courtney Jones and J.E. Thompson

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030843 - 29 Jan 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3259

Abstract

Low-cost, portable particle sensors (n = 3) were designed, constructed, and used to monitor human exposure to particle pollution at various locations and times in Lubbock, TX. The air sensors consisted of a Sharp GP2Y1010AU0F dust sensor interfaced to an Arduino Uno R3, [...] Read more.

Low-cost, portable particle sensors (n = 3) were designed, constructed, and used to monitor human exposure to particle pollution at various locations and times in Lubbock, TX. The air sensors consisted of a Sharp GP2Y1010AU0F dust sensor interfaced to an Arduino Uno R3, and a FONA808 3G communications module. The Arduino Uno was used to receive the signal from calibrated dust sensors to provide a concentration (µg/m³) of suspended particulate matter and coordinate wireless transmission of data via the 3G cellular network. Prior to use for monitoring, dust sensors were calibrated against a reference aerosol monitor (RAM-1) operating independently. Sodium chloride particles were generated inside of a 3.6 m³ mixing chamber while the RAM-1 and each dust sensor recorded signals and calibration was achieved for each dust sensor independently of others by direct comparison with the RAM-1 reading. In an effort to improve the quality of the data stream, the effect of averaging replicate individual pulses of the Sharp sensor when analyzing zero air has been studied. Averaging data points exponentially reduces standard deviation for all sensors with n < 2000 averages but averaging produced diminishing returns after approx. 2000 averages. The sensors exhibited standard deviations for replicate measurements of 3–6 µg/m³ and corresponding 3σ detection limits of 9–18 µg/m³ when 2000 pulses of the dust sensor LED were averaged over an approx. 2 min data collection/transmission cycle. To demonstrate portable monitoring, concentration values from the dust sensors were sent wirelessly in real time to a ThingSpeak channel, while tracking the sensor’s latitude and longitude using an on-board Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor. Outdoor and indoor air quality measurements were made at different places and times while human volunteers carried sensors. The measurements indicated walking by restaurants and cooking at home increased the exposure to particulate matter. The construction of the dust sensors and data collected from this research enhance the current research by describing an open-source concept and providing initial measurements. In principle, sensors can be massively multiplexed and used to generate real-time maps of particulate matter around a given location. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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18 pages, 1462 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship Between the Actual Level of Air Pollution and Residents’ Concern about Air Pollution: Evidence from Shanghai, China

by Daxin Dong, Xiaowei Xu, Wen Xu and Junye Xie

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(23), 4784; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234784 - 28 Nov 2019

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 4827

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between the actual level of air pollution and residents’ concern about air pollution. The actual air pollution level was measured by the air quality index (AQI) reported by environmental monitoring stations, while residents’ concern about air pollution was [...] Read more.

This study explored the relationship between the actual level of air pollution and residents’ concern about air pollution. The actual air pollution level was measured by the air quality index (AQI) reported by environmental monitoring stations, while residents’ concern about air pollution was reflected by the Baidu index using the Internet search engine keywords “Shanghai air quality”. On the basis of the daily data of 2068 days for the city of Shanghai in China over the period between 2 December 2013 and 31 July 2019, a vector autoregression (VAR) model was built for empirical analysis. Estimation results provided three interesting findings. (1) Local residents perceived the deprivation of air quality and expressed their concern on air pollution quickly, within the day on which the air quality index rose. (2) A decline in air quality in another major city, such as Beijing, also raised the concern of Shanghai residents about local air quality. (3) A rise in Shanghai residents’ concern had a beneficial impact on air quality improvement. This study implied that people really cared much about local air quality, and it was beneficial to inform more residents about the situation of local air quality and the risks associated with air pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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25 pages, 9679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of the Internet of Things for Estimating Personal Pollution Exposure

by Keith April G. Arano, Shengjing Sun, Joaquin Ordieres-Mere and and Bing Gong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(17), 3130; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16173130 - 28 Aug 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3782

Abstract

This paper proposes a framework for an Air Quality Decision Support System (AQDSS), and as a proof of concept, develops an Internet of Things (IoT) application based on this framework. This application was assessed by means of a case study in the City [...] Read more.

This paper proposes a framework for an Air Quality Decision Support System (AQDSS), and as a proof of concept, develops an Internet of Things (IoT) application based on this framework. This application was assessed by means of a case study in the City of Madrid. We employed different sensors and combined outdoor and indoor data with spatiotemporal activity patterns to estimate the Personal Air Pollution Exposure (PAPE) of an individual. This pilot case study presents evidence that PAPE can be estimated by employing indoor air quality monitors and e-beacon technology that have not previously been used in similar studies and have the advantages of being low-cost and unobtrusive to the individual. In future work, our IoT application can be extended to include prediction models, enabling dynamic feedback about PAPE risks. Furthermore, PAPE data from this type of application could be useful for air quality policy development as well as in epidemiological studies that explore the effects of air pollution on certain diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated human exposure to air pollution)

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